It is a fact that many people with HIV have faced violence. This violence can be from people they know or from their surroundings. Understanding how this violence affects them is crucial for doctors and caregivers.

     Imagine living in a big city like Atlanta. Picture people with HIV, battling not only their illness but also the shadow of past traumas. Each of these people has a unique story. Many women and men have faced a partner who hurt them physically or emotionally. Almost every person asked reported violence from someone who wasn’t a partner. They also talked about seeing violence in the community or experiencing hate crimes.

     These traumatic experiences can have large impacts on mental health. A lot of HIV-positive people experience severe PTSD. Anxiety and depression are a lot more likely to occur if someone had a violent past. PTSD itself is a big factor and directly affects a person's ability to handle HIV treatment.  Here is where the problem lies - doctors and specialists are missing this connection.

     In Atlanta, there is a real need for routine checks for PTSD.  A person is somewhat less likely to be able to keep up with treatment if they are undergoing severe symptoms of PTSD. Therefore, it might be a  good idea to regularly check people who have been through a lot of trauma.

     It is clear that violence and the traumas it causes must be understood.

     There are some limitations to consider. None of the particular forms of violence directly caused HIV issues, but the underlying anxiety and depression caused by violence can make a big impact on HIV treatment success. This had to be expected. If one is constantly experiencing trauma, it can be overwhelmingly difficult to add one more obstacle to your life.

     People in Atlanta living with HIV have a challenging burden of violence and trauma. The high rates of violence and traumatic experiences highlight a dire need for trauma-informed care and PTSD screening in Atlanta's HIV care settings. This means doctors and health professionals need to be aware of what traumatized people need in order to thrive.

     There are two types of violence, interpersonal (individual) and community-level. Interpersonal violence, as the name suggests, is when one person does harm to another. Community-level violence is a broad concept, referring to a broad range of bad happenings that happen in public areas.   Overall, it is clear that the mental health of HIV patients in Atlanta is heavily influenced by past traumas.  Screening for violence and trauma should be a normal procedure.

     People who think about HIV must also  think critically about the impact of violence, poverty, and those that influence the victim. PTSD affects a person s ability to handle treatment.  These are important factors that affect a person's ability to keep up with HIV treatment. PTSD is the strongest influence, having a huge impact on how well HIV treatment works.

     In conclusion, addressing violence and trauma is crucial for HIV treatment. We cannot ignore the struggles people with HIV face beyond their illness.  Understanding and helping these patients understand trauma, its impacts and how to recover from it, needs to be a focus, a critical research area.

Unseen Scars: How Past Traumas Affect HIV Patients in Atlanta

Actions